Basketball has become one of the fastest-rising sports in Europe, but Ireland has always had a vibrant basketball culture.
And there is no better place to see that currently than the Limerick Celtics.
When it comes to basketball at a National League level, the rules state all teams must always have a minimum of three Irish players on the floor. You can recruit one or two American players for the season, or you can also sign three Europeans from overseas.
Jordan Hehir, head coach of the Division One women’s side of Limerick Celtics, and a guard on the men’s Super League team, says that the process of recruitment is intense.
“It starts off by reaching out to agents,” he explained, “Mainly ones who you have built up a relationship with over the years.
“We tend to use the same agents for both the male and female teams. Once we reach out, the agents will come back with a list of players available that they think would be good fits, along with highlights of them, stats on EuroBasket or whichever platform their college uses.
“I then go through the process of selecting a level of talent I think I want for the season, I tend to pick based on their position and their fit within the system I want to use with the current crop of players I have.
“I then move onto an interview process with a smaller pool where I lay out the contracts, their duties while they are here and their roles and responsibilities within the club.”
This year, the Celtics men’s team, coached by Jordan’s father Tony Hehir, have gone through three American players since the start of this season.
Originally, they had signed 6’10 Austin Rotroff. Unfortunately, he suffered an ACL injury and had to return home.
He was replaced by Zachery Hudson, an American who made his name at D1 level in Australia. Things didn’t work out between the Celtics and Hudson, so he was replaced by their current power forward, Tony Hauser.
Hauser has found good form and is hoping to finish out the season for the Celtics at a minimum.
The one constant for Celtics this year, has been the return of American AJ Williams for a second season. AJ has made a name for himself in Ireland, winning Division One MVP on his way to bringing Celtics into their first ever Men’s Super League season this year, where he is leading the league in points scored. Williams spoke on how he adjusted to life in Ireland and who has helped along the way.
“It’s always risky, because all I knew was growing up and playing in the US, but once I made my mind up to go, there was no going back, and it was the best decision I ever made.”
When asked about who helped him adjust to life in Ireland, Williams said, “My mom, sister and my friends. I lean on them the most on the good and bad days. If I had to pick one person from the team, it would be Eoghan Donaghy (Point guard for Limerick Celtics).”
“He’s always checking on me, always asking if I’m ok and if I need anything. He is a great teammate and an even better person. But all my teammates are great; I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
“Everybody here is so friendly and will take time out of their day to engage in conversation with you. ”
The Women’s side are hunting for their own Division One glory this season. To do so, they went to the UK to recruit, signing 6’1 forward Katie Richards, from Cobham, Surrey.
Richards has always been looking for ways to give back to the game, coaching underage sides in Cobham and then doing the same in Limerick, as well as helping Jordan in coaching the Celtics U18 side to National Cup success in January.
Katie was used to Irish life from previous summer camps she coached, but living here has brought some changes.
“Although it isn’t too dissimilar to back home,” she said. “Everybody here is so friendly and will take time out of their day to engage in conversation with you, even if it’s just a small ‘hey, how are you?’”
“One change I had to make to my game is speeding up my decision-making. The game is played at such a fast pace. I’ve had to improve my physicality and learn how to effectively use my body, because a lot more contact is allowed here.”
This friendly and welcoming environment is cultivated by husband-and-wife owners, Michelle Aspell and Tony Hehir, so family really is central to the Celtic’s value and community.